Aprilia Moto 6.5.1 Starx Is the World’s Ugliest Bike Remastered Into a Genuine Head-Turner

Visordown literally described the Moto 6.5 as “a crime against motorcycling,” which might’ve been a bit harsh were the opinion not shared by a large portion of the public. The model hasn’t even turned into one of those quirky relics that grow on people over time, as it is still loathed by the motorcycling world nearly three decades after its release. However, we can’t just blame this on the bike’s appearance.

Its performance was nothing to write home about, either, so you’d be hard-pressed to find any redeeming qualities on this thing at all. There are, nevertheless, a few individuals who do, and Rick Geall over in Northamptonshire, England is among them. He’s the owner of Wreckless Motorcycles and always up for a good challenge, even if it involves striving toward a seemingly impossible goal.

In this case, that meant turning the Starck-designed Aprilia into something of a stunner, prettier and more imposing than any Moto 6.5 should ever have the right to be! Inspiration came from a digital rendering drafted by Michael Bretherton of Charcoal Design, an accomplished graphic designer from Brisbane, Australia. He got a call from Rick one day and was more than happy to let him bring his ideas to life.

Then, Wreckless sourced a 1996 Moto 6.5 and had it taken apart right away. Starting at the front end, they retrofitted the forks and lower triple clamp of a Honda Hornet, as well as a custom top clamp CNC-machined out of billet aluminum. This latter part features an integrated housing for the instrumentation, which comes in the form of a digital Koso EX-02 dial.

Further ahead, we notice a sizeable headlight assembly with LED componentry and angular handmade shrouds on all sides. Everything in that area is held in place via tailor-made aluminum brackets, while the cockpit area houses Renthal clip-ons outfitted with Brembo control levers, bar-end turn signals, and a Rizoma fluid reservoir. Moreover, a single aftermarket mirror can also be spotted on the right, small but wide enough to offer a decent view out back.

The front fender is a modified Honda CBR1000 unit, and the 17-inch wheels have been kindly donated by an Aprilia Pegaso Strada. Michelin Pilot Power 2CT rubber is present at both ends, measuring 120/60 up north and 150/60 down south. Stopping power comes from premium Brembo calipers all-round, with a floating EBC disc at the front and a Galfer wave rotor at six o’clock.

Wreckless finished off the updated suspension package with a top-shelf Bitubo monoshock – a nice way to complement the Showa forks on the other end. What’s more, the swingarm got extended by 55 millimeters (around 2.2 inches) and a reworked subframe is now present higher up. The latter supports a flat Alcantara saddle up top, aluminum side panels on the flanks, and a discreet inner fender underneath.

An off-the-shelf tail tidy is attached to the subframe’s southernmost tip, complete with integrated LEDs. Peeking lower down, we notice fresh sprockets and a D.I.D drive chain connecting the bike’s gearbox to its rear hoop. Rick and his team paved the way toward cafe racer ergonomics with the clip-ons we’ve mentioned earlier, so they also added some aftermarket rearsets to bring them full circle.

Yet another cool little add-on is the quick-action Lightech filler cap placed atop the fuel tank. On the other hand, the motorcycle’s 649cc single-cylinder mill was rebuilt inside out and treated to some custom-made exhaust pipework. The stainless-steel plumbing snakes its way back to a compact Akrapovic silencer on the right, doing so in graceful fashion. Electrical upgrades comprise a new battery and a replacement wiring harness.

For the paint job, Wreckless Motorcycles made use of hydro-dipping on items like the side panels, fuel tank cover, and front fender. These were all coated in a film mimicking the look of carbon fiber, while satin-black became the chosen hue in most other areas. Orange highlights forming the letter X can be spotted on both sides of the fuel tank, accompanied by small text depicting the bike’s nickname.

It was christened Moto 6.5.1 Starx by Rick Geall and his squad, who’ve managed to transform one of the world’s most obnoxious two-wheelers into a genuine head-turner. Getting to this stage was no walk in the park, and few other builders would even attempt such a project in the first place! If a workshop can make an Aprilia Moto 6.5 look this good, that’s undeniable evidence of its world-class expertise.